Volunteer Program

Mission

Volunteers play an important role in supporting the work and mission of OSD. They assist with academic programs, recreation, fundraising, campus activities, and program support. Volunteers are recruited, trained, and supervised by the Outreach Program.

All potential volunteers must fill out the volunteer application and criminal history check. This must be done before the person can volunteer on campus. Once the criminal check is verified as clear, the search for placement of the volunteer in one of the specified departments begins. Once the volunteer is placed in a department, the volunteer and supervisor must notify the volunteer coordinator as soon as the volunteer work begins. The volunteer must attend one of the volunteer orientations. The volunteer must complete the necessary paperwork distributed by the volunteer coordinator at orientation. Volunteers working with students (tutoring, academic assistance, counseling, etc.) are required to have proficient ASL skills.

Volunteer Process

A potential volunteer must fill out the volunteer application and criminal history check. This must be done before the person can volunteer on campus.

Once the criminal check is verified as clear, the search for placement of the volunteer in one of the specified departments begins.

Once the volunteer is placed in a department, the volunteer and supervisor must notify the volunteer coordinator as soon as the volunteer work begins.

The volunteer must attend one of the volunteer orientations.

The volunteer must complete the necessary paperwork distributed by the volunteer coordinator at orientation.

Volunteer Guidelines

Thank you for sharing your time with our staff and students by coming to volunteer at Oregon School for the Deaf! Any time that you donate to OSD is deeply appreciated.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind as you serve our school:

All adults that serve our students are mandatory reporters. If you are alerted to any child abuse by one of our students, you are directed to call DHS and relay the information. Let the Principal or Director of Instruction know what occurred. We are located on state property and volunteers must follow the same guidelines. 1-855-503-SAFE (7233)

Confidentiality of students is very important. You are not to discuss students with staff members, especially in front of other students. Chatting with teacher aides is also distracting when they are working. If you have a concern, please communicate, in private with your primary contact (teacher / staff member) or request to meet with one of the school counselors or principals. We abide by the FERPA and HIPAA laws and you need to as well. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Our school is a signing environment. Over half our faculty are Deaf adults, and of course all of our student body is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. We use ASL for conversations to ensure visual access for everyone. If you are a beginning signer, please put your best foot forward and try to be as clear as possible to diminish frustration or misunderstanding. Written English also works with the adults if you have a specific question in mind and do not have proficient ASL. We encourage you to practice using ASL any chance you get!

Follow the parameters set by the teacher or staff member “sponsoring” you. Sometimes students do better when parents are not within visual proximity, and other times it’s very helpful when parents are onhand. Again, use the teacher or staff member as your guide to what works best in the particular situation.

When on campus during mealtimes, you are welcome to join our students in the cafeteria; please purchase $3 lunch tickets through Rosie Lopez, our school cashier in advance of the mealtime. Our students love it when volunteers join in for meals.

Wear clean and neat clothing when serving our students - our children look to the adults to set the example of what is appropriate behavior to follow.

Keep your appointments - students tend to look forward and “count” on a volunteer when they said they will come. Alert your teacher or staff member to your absence when unavoidable.

Be sure to fill out your application annually.

Thanks again for sharing your time with us and making a difference in the lives of our students!

Volunteer Positions

Actors

Duties: Act out various roles in annual Nightmare Factory

Times: 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. nightly during Nightmare Factory run

Department: Dean of Student Life (Supervisor of Lindstrom Hall)

Construction Workers

Duties: Help build staging and props for Nightmare Factory

Times: Afternoons/Evenings during October

Department: Dean of Student Life (Supervisor of Lindstrom Hall)

Athletic Events Assistance

Duties: Assist with various athletic events

Times: During athletic meets and tournaments

Department: Dean of Students

One-on-one Tutoring

Duties: Assist with homework and tutoring in the dorms

Times: After school

Department: Residential Program

Classroom assistance

This is very limited, as most classes do not have an opening for volunteers

Duties: Assist teachers with projects

Times: During day

Department: Elementary, Middle, High School

Data Entry

Duties: Enter information about various resources into Outlook Contacts and Access